BirdWatch Ireland
West Cork Branch
Protecting birds and biodiversity in West Cork
The West Cork Bird Race
Sunday 1st February 2026
Start: 8.30am - Scally's Supervalu Carpark, Clonakilty
Finish: 6:00pm - O'Donovan's Hotel, Clonakilty
We are holding our 8th annual dawn to dusk bird race on Sunday 1st February, during which, teams of four will spend the day driving around an area of West Cork trying to record as many bird species as possible.
The race area stretches from Ring Pier in the east to Rosscarbery Pier in the west and all south of the R600 and the N71. The race is open to everyone, from the very experienced birder to the very inexperienced, and all have an opportunity to win the coveted Julian Wyllie trophy! This is always a thoroughly enjoyable day out, a great way to get familiar with one of the best birdwatching locations in the whole country, and with the potential to record more than one hundred bird species. To date, 132 bird species have been recorded.
If you are interested in taking part in the Bird Race, please register your team by email or text/WhatsApp to Nicholas Mitchell (details below) or on the morning of the race before 8:15am at the starting point. Registering your team beforehand will help greatly with catering after the event. For those who do not have a team of four, but want to take part, register your name and the Branch will try to put you with a team.
Race entry is €10 per person. This includes finger food in O’Donovan’s after the Race and any surplus will be donated directly to Cape Clear Bird Observatory.
A checklist of birds and the rules, along with a race area map, will be provided on the day.
Race start:
8:30am sharp at Scally's SuperValu car park,
Clonakilty
Race finish: 6:00pm sharp at O'Donovan’s
Hotel, Clonakilty
Contact details for registration & enquiries:
Nicholas Mitchell
Email: treasurer@birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie
Mobile: 087 121
5256